JIBC Fire Officer Program Redesign Online Consultation Summary

1
JIBC Fire Officer Program RedesignOnline
Consultation Summary
2
Emailer Statistics

• Total completed responses 447
• Response rate 6.7
• Represents an excellent cross section of the fire
  service in BC

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demographics

• Respondents

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Department Location by Zone

• 53 of respondents were from Zone 1 or Zone 2
• International locations included Saudi Arabia,
  Europe, Africa and Hawaii

5
Department Size

• 53 of respondents work in a department with 10
  50 members

6
Department Make Up

• 44 of respondents work in a composite
  department a department comprised of volunteer
  and career members

7
Current Position

• 26 are Fire Fighters
• 45 hold Chief Officer or Fire Officer positions

8
Active Service Length

• 48 are long serving fire service personnel over
  15 years experience
• Only 16 of respondents have less than 5 years of
  service

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Fire service training
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Level of Fire Service Training

• 27 of respondents have completed either Fire
  Officer I or II
• Only 4 of respondents have completed Fire
  Officer I-IV

11
Fire Service Training External to Department

• 78 of respondents have taken fire service
  training external to their department
• Comments indicated that they have taken a wide
  variety of courses and programs, many of them
  through the JIBC

12
Fire Officer Training

• 69 of respondents have taken some Fire Officer
  training
• Suggests majority of respondents are experienced
  fire service personnel

13
Fire Officer Training Location

• 60 received Fire Officer training at the JIBC

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Experience Ranking JIBC Fire Officer Training

• Highest ranked factor Valuable at 63 -
  suggests students found program content to be
  valuable in furthering their careers
• Lowest ranked factor Affordable at 38

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Factor Importance

• Most Important Practical content 96 ranked
  as important or very important
• Least Important Program Affordability 72
• Seventy percent of respondents ranked all five
  items as Important or Very Important

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Additional Important Topics

• Fire suppression courses and education
• Improving communication and communication styles
  between department members
• Improving people skills
• Building quality relations with government
• Life management skills away from the job stress
  management, health and fitness

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Program feedback
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Support Proposed Approach

• Strong support for proposed approach
• Undecided questions about courses and skills
  reduction

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Impact of Time Reduction

• 77 of respondents feel the significantly reduced
  time commitment would motivate them to complete
  all four levels of the program.
• Provides support for reduced timeframe in
  proposed Fire Officer I-IV program.

20
Awareness of Bachelor Degree

• 69 of respondents are aware of the Bachelor of
  Fire Safety Studies Degree offered by the JIBC.
  

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Education Importance

• 91 of respondents view education as important
• The Fire Officer Program is a clearly defined
  part of our education path was identified as
  very positive

22
Education Goals Personal

• 66 - Certification to NFPA Standards 44 -
  Skills Development, non-Accredited 39 -
  Diploma 37 - Bachelors Degree

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Education Goals - Department

• Personal and department education goals are
  almost identical in two categories
  Certification to NFPA Standards and Skills
  Development, Non-Accredited (see previous slide)
• Diploma or Degree ranks considerably higher as a
  personal goal

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Factor Importance - After being presented with
more information about the program

• Accessibility and Practical, interactive, and
  hands-on learning are the two most important
  factors
• All four factors ranked high in importance to
  respondents

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Delivery Methods

• Online delivery top ranked 44
• Results support offering multiple delivery
  methods including delivering the courses
  remotely in order to meet student needs

26
Proposed Program Support

• 69 support or strongly support the proposed
  program changes.
• 20 somewhat support proposed program

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Additional Comments

• Respondents were encouraged to provide any
  additional comments on the final page. Common
  responses included
• Positive
• Grateful that feedback was requested would like
  to see it incorporated
• Appreciate multiple delivery methods increase
  ability for members outside the lower mainland to
  complete the program
• Reduced timeframe allowing for easier completion,
  meeting varying needs of students
• Concerns or questions
• Lack of people skills taught
• Course transferability and impact on current
  students
• Reduced timeframe, reduction of skill sets

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In response to you your concerns and questions we
have made the following adjustments

• Shorter, more focused courses making the program
  more accessible and affordable. Reducing time
  away from work for both career and volunteer fire
  fighters
• Increased accessibility with the introduction of
  flexible delivery options including on-line,
  in-house, face-to-face or any combination
• Content that is more relevant as it directly
  relates to NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer
  Professional Qualifications
• Clearly defined education path allowing greater
  access to advanced education such as our Diploma
  and Bachelors Degree and
• Increased opportunity for recognition of
  certificates completed at other accredited
  institutions (IFSAC or ProBoard)
• You also asked us to give further consideration
  to the following areas
• Enhancing the area of leadership, including
  adding content on conflict resolution and dealing
  with people we did by creating 2 courses
  Frontline Leadership I and II
• Communicating how the proposed changes will
  affect those already enrolled in the Fire Officer
  Program. clearly articulated bridging and
  one-on-one advising available
• Ensured that quality of content and instruction
  is not lost in the revised program.
• We listened closely to what you said!